The new “What did you pack your kid today?” thread, where we’re jotting down what we packed for our children’s lunches that day, along with a note of how old the child is. Photos aren’t necessary (but welcome if you have them); it’s more of a place to get quick ideas for kid-friendly lunches.

Congratulations go to Laura Bento, the winner of the second Bento of the Month contest on the Lunch in a Box Forum. Readers voted hers the best representative of the “Valentine” theme, and she will receive the Putifresh bento box set courtesy of Lethargic. Thanks to everyone who took the time to post your speedy bento lunches; it was interesting to read through the entries and see your cute Valentine-themed lunches.

The theme of the Bento of the Month Contest for March is “Cost: How Low Can You Go?”. I’m thinking of Japanese bento cookbooks I have that use sale items, cheap veggies, and staple foods to put together a cheap but balanced and tasty lunch. All containers are welcome (Laptop Lunchbox, Tupperware-type containers, thermal lunch jars, sandwich cases, etc.), not just bento boxes. (Read on for contest and prize details.)

To enter, make your low-cost packed lunch, post a photo and description of what’s in the lunch, along with an estimate of the food costs to the March contest thread on the Lunch in a Box forum by Thursday, March 26, 2009. We’ll compile all of the entries into a poll, and forum members can vote for their favorite.

The winner will receive the new three-tier Windax picnic bento set pictured here, compliments of last month’s winner Laura Bento. Thanks Laura! (Donations of bento-related prizes and shipping to future winners are welcome; just e-mail me at lunchinabox [AT} gmail {DOT] com).

AH! super helpful! I love reading your blog and i love that you are so ready to share other blogs with yours : )
thanks again for a great post ^_^ ill continue to read (and with hope have more skill to make beautiful bentos!)

I just came across your site and can’t read enough of your post. I have a 13 month old. She is all organic and a vegetarian (like mommy) and I home make her baby food. I still send her puree food for lunch but I’m so tired of pureeing. You think I can do this bento lunch for a 13 month old? Thanks for your time!

My 15yr old daughter had to have a lock n lock for christmas so she could start making her own bentos. I make a big batch of rice on sunday and buy edemame and she teaches her friends about new foods. Today was black beans.

Thanks so much for the forum update. I’ve been having LIB-blog withdrawals with the decline in posts. I realize the forum is your new baby and focus, and the few times I’ve gotten to hop on, it’s been helpful. I just don’t have time to peruse a forum as much, so it’s great to see “the highlights.”

@2 from Kim: Yes, absolutely you can make mini bento lunches for a 13-month-old! I started packing tiny bentos for my son when he was about that old, so that we didn’t have to leave the playground early (and my diaper bag wouldn’t be packed full of little Tupperware containers). Get a small box and put a few balanced foods in it — voila, bento!